Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Amarillo, TX
VS
Yuma, AZ
🏆 Amarillo leads 12 of 23 categories
Amarillo
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,628 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
182⚠ High
Population
200,360 ✓ Larger
Yuma
Arizona
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4
Median Household Income
$59,312
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
96,314
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Amarillo, TX
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.2 pts lower (3.5%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 92°F vs 107°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
More college-educated — 25.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 14.5:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Yuma
Cons
Violent crime (690.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2655.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Yuma, AZ
Pros
39% less violent crime than Amarillo
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 51°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
Cons
Higher unemployment (7.7% vs 3.5%)
Hot summers — July highs average 107°F
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Amarillo
Key Differences at a Glance
Amarillo
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 93.4 (100 = US avg)
Amarillo
Median Income
$1,316
$60,628 vs $59,312/yr
Amarillo
Median Home Value
$14k less
$172,700 vs $186,500
Amarillo
Unemployment
4.2 pp lower
3.5% vs 7.7% unemployment
Yuma
Violent Crime
39% lower
423.6 vs 690.5 per 100k
Yuma
Summer Heat
14.7°F warmer
July avg high 106.7°F vs 92.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Amarillo, TX | Yuma, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper | 93.4 |
| Median Home Value | $172,700 ✓ Lower | $186,500 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $997 ✓ Lower | $1,028 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,628 ✓ Higher | $59,312 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% ✓ Lower | 7.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.5 min | 17.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 6.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 160⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 182⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 59 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) ✓ Better | C- (70) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.2% ✓ Higher | 20.3% |
| High School or Higher | 86.1% ✓ Higher | 83.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AMARILLO ISD | Yuma Elementary District (4499) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.7°F | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F | 106.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" | 3.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,360 ✓ Larger | 96,314 |
| Median Age | 34.4 ✓ Older | 32.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.6% | 64.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 26.5% ✓ More | 25.8% |
| Over 65 | 14.5% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Amarillo's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Yuma's 93.4 (US average = 100).
Amarillo is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Amarillo leads 12 of 23 categories. Amarillo wins 12 and Yuma wins 11. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Amarillo to Yuma or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($172,700 vs $186,500 median home), income ($60,628 vs $59,312), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Amarillo, TX and Yuma, AZ are about 751 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.